By El Amigo
MANILA — Behind the façade of environmental protection, China’s plan to create a “Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve” in Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) is being seen as yet another attempt to formalize its presence in Philippine territory, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
It is good to note that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) minced no words in condemning Beijing’s move pronto, calling it “illegitimate and unlawful.”
For Manila, China’s latest announcement is not about safeguarding marine biodiversity, but about cementing control over a vital maritime feature that lies well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
A Masked Agenda
Analysts and maritime experts note that China often cloaks its expansionist activities with seemingly harmless initiatives—whether it’s building “fishermen shelters,” setting up “scientific research stations,” or, in this case, declaring a “nature reserve.”
Such measures, they argue, are designed to normalize Beijing’s occupation and erode the rightful claims of other nations, particularly the Philippines.
The DFA underscored that Bajo de Masinloc “is a longstanding and integral part of the Philippines,” stressing that only Manila has the authority to designate environmental protection zones within its territory. Establishing a so-called reserve, it added, is nothing more than a legal fig leaf to disguise an unlawful incursion.
Philippines’ Sovereignty Claims
The Philippines’ claim over Bajo de Masinloc is grounded in history, geography, and international law.
The shoal, located about 124 nautical miles west of Zambales, falls well within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile EEZ under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Historical records show that Filipino fishermen have long relied on the shoal as a traditional fishing ground.
In fact, official Philippine maps dating back to the 18th century already include Scarborough Shoal as part of the national territory.
Additionally, the 1935 and 1973 Philippine Constitutions also refer to “all other territories belonging to the Philippines by historic right or legal title,” encompassing Bajo de Masinloc.
In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued a landmark ruling that invalidated China’s sweeping “nine-dash line” claim and affirmed that Scarborough Shoal is within the Philippines’ EEZ.
The tribunal also recognized the traditional fishing rights of Filipino, Chinese, and other regional fishermen in the area.
Despite this legally binding decision, however, Beijing has refused to comply and has continued to assert control over the shoal.
A Flashpoint in the West Philippine Sea
Scarborough Shoal remains one of the most contested maritime features in the West Philippine Sea, a portion of the South China Sea that the Philippines asserts under its sovereignty and jurisdiction.
The shoal’s strategic location—near key shipping lanes and rich fishing grounds—makes it highly valuable not only for food security but also for military and economic interests.
Since the 2012 standoff, China has effectively maintained a constant presence in the area, often blocking Filipino fishermen and deploying maritime militia and coast guard vessels to enforce its claims.
These actions have repeatedly drawn diplomatic protests from Manila, underscoring the tense and fragile situation in the waters.
A Call for Vigilance
The DFA urged China to withdraw its plan and “comply with its obligations under international law,” including UNCLOS, the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
For Manila, the fight is not only about protecting territory but also about defending the livelihood of Filipino fishermen and upholding the international rules-based order.
In the bigger picture, China’s “nature reserve” claim looks less like an act of conservation and more like a limp alibi—an attempt to paint illegal occupation with a green brush.
As the Philippines continues to push back diplomatically, the challenge lies in rallying international support to ensure that the world sees through the veneer of environmentalism and recognizes the move for what it truly is: another step in Beijing’s creeping assertion over Philippine waters. /iamigo
